Fire breaks out in multi-storey building at Chandni Chowk

A major fire broke out on Monday evening in a multi-storey building located in the congested Chandni Chowk area of Central Kolkata. The fire was first noticed around 6:30 PM in a warehouse situated on the second floor of the building. Given the dense nature of the locality and the presence of numerous electronic shops and combustible materials, the blaze threatened to spread rapidly to adjacent structures, causing widespread panic among local shopkeepers and residents.

Upon receiving the alert, four fire engines were immediately dispatched to the scene, followed by two more as the intensity of the smoke increased. Firefighters faced significant challenges navigating the narrow lanes of the market area to reach the building. To vent the thick black smoke trapped inside, personnel had to break the glass windows of the warehouse, allowing them to locate the seat of the fire more effectively.

Eyewitnesses reported that as soon as the fire was spotted, local shop owners and residents took the initiative to start dousing the flames with available equipment before the fire brigade arrived. Simultaneously, the residents living in the upper floors of the multi-storey building were safely evacuated. Their timely intervention and the prompt arrival of the fire services prevented any major casualties or injuries in the incident.

After nearly thirty minutes of intensive efforts, the fire was brought under control. While the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be determined, preliminary investigations suggest a possible electrical short circuit. The area remained tense for several hours as "pocket fires" were being monitored. This incident has once again highlighted the fire safety risks in Kolkata’s older, crowded commercial hubs as the year draws to a close.